Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin

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Coordinates:52°31′20″N13°22′46″E/ 52.52222°N 13.37944°E/52.52222; 13.37944
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Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin
Pasuguan ng Pilipinas sa Berlin
Botschaft der Philippinen in Berlin
Map
LocationBerlin
AddressLuisenstraße 16
Coordinates52°31′20″N13°22′46″E/ 52.52222°N 13.37944°E/52.52222; 13.37944
AmbassadorIrene Susan B. Natividad
Websitephilippine-embassy.de

TheEmbassy of the Philippines in Berlinis thediplomatic missionof theRepublic of the Philippinesto theFederal Republic of Germany.First opened in 1955 as the mission toWest Germany,it is currently located in theMittelocality of central Berlin, just beyond the periphery of theReichstag complexand near theCharité.

In addition to the current embassy, the Philippines also maintained an embassy inEast Germany,which opened in 1979 inEast Berlinand closed afterGerman reunification.

History[edit]

Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Germany were made possible with PresidentElpidio Quirinosigning Proclamation No. 264 on July 9, 1951, which formally terminated the state of war that existed between the two countries as a result ofWorld War II.[1]Relations were initially conducted through thePhilippine Embassy in London,withLeón María Guerrero III,at the time serving as Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom, being accredited as the first non-resident envoy toWest Germanyin 1952.[2]

Formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and West Germany were established on October 8, 1954,[3]and after the two countries signed a trade agreement on April 25, 1955,[4]a legation inBonnwas opened that year,[2]with Jose D. Ingles becoming the mission's first resident envoy.[5]Ingles was appointed by PresidentCarlos P. Garciaas the legation's chief of mission on June 24, 1957,[6][7]and on January 5, 1962, Garcia's successor,Diosdado Macapagal,elevated the legation to an embassy with his promotion to ambassador.[8]

Relations between the Philippines andEast Germany,on the other hand, were established on September 22, 1973, the first time the Philippines had established diplomatic relations with a member of theEastern Bloc.[9]An embassy was subsequently opened inEast Berlinin 1979,[10]located along a stretch of Otto-Grotewohl-Straße (nowWilhelmstraße) near theBrandenburg Gateand down the street from the present-day Embassy, in a building shared with the embassies of several other countries.[11]Meanwhile, in the run-up to thePeople Power Revolutionin 1986, staff members of the embassy in Bonn voted to recognize the election ofCorazon Aquinoas President following the results ofthat year's presidential election.[12]

AfterGerman reunification,which led to the closure of the embassy in East Berlin, the Embassy remained in Bonn until 1999, when it was moved to Berlin during the ambassadorship of Jose A. Zaide, who became the first ambassador to reside in the city.[2]The former embassy continued to serve as an extension office until it was closed in 2008 as part of a rationalization program and replaced the following year with the opening of thePhilippine Consulate General in Frankfurt.[13]

Chancery[edit]

Jägerstraße 71, the building whereJosé RizalcompletedNoli Me Tángere,was the first building the Philippine government considered for the Embassy's permanent chancery

Thechanceryof the Philippine Embassy in Berlin was first located along Uhlandstraße inWilmersdorf,[14]renting space in a building built over an 11-unitGründerzeit-era residential building.[15]That chancery, located on the building's sixth floor, had a 300 m2(3,200 sq ft) reception area and a grand piano that was used for improvised concerts.[16]In 2012, Philippine SenatorFranklin Drilon,recounting a previous visit to Berlin, had criticized the chancery's location, claiming that it was an "embarrassment" for it to be above a supermarket wherefrankfurterscould be seen hanging outside near the chancery windows;[17]Zaide, who was ambassador at the time Drilon visited, denied his version of events, claiming that he didn't recall that specific visit.[16]The Uhlandstraße location was abandoned in favor of a new office along theKurfürstendammon November 23, 2015.[18]

Planning for a new, permanent chancery began in the 2000s, with the government first looking at purchasing the property on Jägerstraße 71 inFriedrichstadt,across from the first headquarters ofDeutsche Bank.At the time, the Philippines was the only Southeast Asian country whose embassy in Germany didn't own its chancery nor its ambassadorial residence outright, and housing the Embassy in that building would've been fitting as it was whereJosé Rizalcompleted his first novel,Noli Me Tángere.[19]With all Philippine government offices in Germany being hosted in the building, plus the ambassadorial residence being located on the top floor, the building was proposed to become thePhilippine Centerfor Europe.[19]

Unable to proceed with the Jägerstraße location as the property was not available for purchase, the Embassy, led by Ambassador Ma. Cleofe Natividad, then began searching for a new property,[20]with the process formally kicking off on May 11, 2012 alongside procurement for the construction of a new chancery for the Philippine Embassy inIslamabad.[21]Negotiations opened in late 2013 for the construction of a chancery on Von-der-Heydt-Straße in Berlin's diplomatic quarter, south of theTiergarten,withDüsseldorf-based HPP Architekten serving as consultant to the project.[22]Construction of the building, a five-story structure combining both the chancery and the ambassadorial residence on the top floor, was awarded to Groth Gruppe, which was also responsible for building several other buildings in the area where the Embassy was set to be constructed,[20]and an agreement was signed on September 20, 2014 to facilitate construction, witnessed by PresidentBenigno Aquino III.[23]

Despite those agreements being signed, the project was likewise not able to proceed due to several factors, including a lack of funds, the hot Berlin real estate market and the slow pace of bureaucracy, which ultimately led to the construction of the present-day chancery.[20]

Luisenstraße site[edit]

Construction of the present-day chancery on Luisenstraße was largely facilitated by Ambassador Melita Santa Maria-Thomeczek, who succeeded Natividad. Soon after assuming the ambassadorship in 2015, Thomeczek began searching for a suitable site for the chancery, settling on a 400 m2(4,300 sq ft) site on Charitéstraße 7 – one of the last available vacant lots in the area.[24]In the 19th century, the site was once home to Robert Leyser, a Jewish tailor and an ancestor of noted trade unionistLudwig Rosenberg.[25]The lot was secured at the end of 2015, and on April 19, 2016, the Embassy signed an agreement with Zielconcept Real Estate to build a turnkey chancery with 1,400 m2(15,000 sq ft) of usable space, with Aspera Technics, a Zielconcept subsidiary, overseeing construction.[26]

Costing the Philippine government €11 million for both land acquisition and building construction,[27]preparatory work began in November 2016,[28]and construction officially commenced in early 2017.[24]The building wastopped offon January 17, 2018, near the end of Thomeczek's term,[24]and it was inaugurated on February 19, 2019 with Foreign Affairs SecretaryTeodoro Locsin Jr.,SenatorLoren Legardaand DFA officials, including former ambassadors Natividad and Thomeczek, in attendance.[27]At its inauguration, Locsin remarked that he hopes all future Philippine embassies will look like the Berlin mission,[27]and the official statement released by the Embassy noted that the new chancery is a testament to the "continued relevance of good old brick-and-mortar diplomacy".[20]

The seven-floor chancery, designed by Berlin architect Florian Hoyer,[29]was built in themoderniststyle.[27]Construction of the building was complicated by the street corner's slope, and also had to factor in urban design and historical preservation considerations due to its proximity to the Charité and the aesthetics of the surrounding neighborhood.[24]Its interiors, deliberately built with few right angles save for the elevator shafts,[24]and noted for its use ofFilipinianadesign elements,[27]were designed by local design company Welcome Berlin, while the furniture used throughout the building was supplied by Spanish furniture maker Angel Cerdá, employing Italian designs with neutral color tones.[30]Built with a gross floor area of 2,020 m2(21,700 sq ft),[29]a conference room occupies the building's top floor, while the ambassador's office is on the floor below.[24]One floor houses the Berlin center of theSentro Rizal,[27]while the ground floor opens up to a small back garden with a staircase connecting it to the basement, which houses a large reception and function hall.[24]Persons entering the chancery are greeted by aBuddy Bearnamed "Malakas",[16]painted in the colors of thePhilippine flag.[27]

Although the lot which the chancery occupies is on Charitéstraße, it was originally planned to give the chancery an address using the nearby Karlplatz (Karlplatz 1), as it would've been more instantly recognizable. However, city authorities gave final approval to construction of the building with a Luisenstraße address (Luisenstraße 16).[24]

Staff and activities[edit]

The Philippine Embassy in Berlin is currently headed by Ambassador Irene Susan B. Natividad, who was appointed to the position by PresidentBongbong Marcoson November 22, 2022.[31]Prior to becoming Ambassador, Natividad, a career diplomat, served aschargée d'affairesat the Philippine Embassy inVienna,[32]and before that served as Consul General at the Philippine Consulate General inMilan.[33]Her appointment was confirmed by theCommission on Appointmentson December 14, 2022,[34]and she presented her credentials to German PresidentFrank-Walter Steinmeieron May 16, 2023.[35]

Notable diplomats who have been deployed to the Embassy include Foreign Affairs SecretaryDelia Albert,who first served as the mission's second-in-command in the 1980s while it was still headquartered in Bonn,[36]andDomingo Lucenario Jr.,who worked at the Embassy as a consul in the early 1990s.[37]Planning for a permanent chancery in Berlin also began during Albert's ambassadorship from 2005 to 2010.[19]

Many of the Embassy's activities center around fostering and deepening economic and cultural relations between the Philippines and Germany. These include encouraging German businesses to invest in the Philippines,[38]supporting Philippine produce exports to Germany,[39]fostering cultural exchanges and encouraging the study of Filipino language and culture in German universities,[40]launching a "living library" for exchanging stories and perspectives between Germans and Filipinos,[41]and hosting seminars and lectures on Filipino culture, including a seminar onhalo-haloandFilipino cuisinemore generally,[42]and a virtualBaybayinclass.[43]In addition to these initiatives, the Embassy is also responsible for ensuring the welfare of the large community ofFilipinos in Germany,which it facilitates through the consulate in Frankfurt and honorary consulates inMunich,StuttgartandEssen,[44]as well as through conducting consular outreach activities in various parts of the country.[45]

In 2008, the Embassy's website was recognized as one of the best German-language websites by search engine erfolgreich-suchen.de, an honor which it also received the previous year.[46]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Proclamation No. 264, s. 1951".Official Gazette.July 9, 1951.RetrievedMay 10,2021.
  2. ^abc"Timeline".Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin. Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2006.RetrievedMay 10,2021.
  3. ^"Philippinen: Steckbrief"(in German).Federal Foreign Office of Germany.March 1, 2021.RetrievedMay 10,2021.
  4. ^"50 Years of Philippine-German Relations: An Overview".Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin. Archived fromthe originalon June 21, 2006.RetrievedMay 10,2021.
  5. ^"Philippine Ambassadors to Germany".Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin. Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2006.RetrievedMay 10,2021.
  6. ^"Appointments and Designations: May 31, 1958".Official Gazette.RetrievedMay 10,2021.Tomas de Castro and Jose D. Ingles as Chiefs of Mission, Class III, July 24, 1957.
  7. ^"Official Month in Review: December 1 – December 15, 1957".Official Gazette.RetrievedMay 10,2021.Upon learning of Miss Zandueta's appeal, President Garcia sometime ago had directed the Department of Foreign Affairs to look into the case. Minister Jose D. Ingles, chief of mission of the Philippine legation in Bonn, Germany, studied the matter and made a report to the foreign affairs office.
  8. ^"Official Week in Review: December 31 – January 6, 1962".Official Gazette.Archived fromthe originalon May 13, 2021.RetrievedMay 10,2021.Earlier the President inducted Ambassadors Emilio Abello, Mauro Mendez, Jose D. Ingles, and Narciso Reyes before Vice-President and concurrent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Emmanuel Pelaez, Undersecretary Salvador P. Lopez, Ambassadors Roberto Regala and Melchor Aquino, and Minister Librado D. Cayco. Ambassador Ingles, assigned to Bonn, West Germany, and Ambassador Reyes were promoted in rank.
  9. ^"Official Week in Review: September 21 – September 27, 1973".Official Gazette.RetrievedMay 10,2021.THE PHILIPPINES and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) established formal diplomatic relations it was announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Philippine-East German agreement is the first of four contemplated agreements with socialist countries of Eastern Europe which the President had specifically instructed Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo to negotiate.
  10. ^"Letter of Implementation No. 95, s. 1979".Official Gazette.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  11. ^"Diplomatische und Andere Vertretungen"[Diplomatic and Other Representations].Fernsprechbuch für die Hauptstadt der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik[Telephone Directory for the Capital of the German Democratic Republic] (in German). 1989. p. 100.RetrievedMay 10,2021– via theBerlin Central and Regional Library.
  12. ^"Filipino diplomats also rebel".Detroit Free Press.February 25, 1986.RetrievedMay 10,2021– via Newspapers.
  13. ^"New RP consulate general opens in Frankfurt".GMA News and Public Affairs.March 4, 2009.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
  14. ^"Botschaften und Diplomatische Vertretungen"[Embassies and Diplomatic Representations] (in German). Bezirksamt Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. 26 October 2015.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  15. ^"Berlin-Wilmersdorf - Uhlandstr.".Berliner Adreßbuch[Berliner Address Book] (in German). 1920. p. 542.RetrievedMay 11,2021– via theBerlin Central and Regional Library.
  16. ^abcZaide, Jose A. (August 30, 2012)."Amusing story".The Philippine Star.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  17. ^Sy, Marvin (August 15, 2012)."Drilon: Phl chancery with wiener view embarrassing".The Philippine Star.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  18. ^"New Office Address"(Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin. October 30, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon November 9, 2015.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  19. ^abcBriones, Leonor M.(October 12, 2008)."In Rizal's footsteps".ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  20. ^abcdRocamora, Joyce Ann L. (February 19, 2019)."Locsin inaugurates new PH chancery in Berlin".Philippine News Agency.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
  21. ^"DFA Department Order No. 13-12, s. 2012".Official Gazette.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  22. ^"Philippine Chancery in Berlin Soon to Rise"(Press release).Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.December 3, 2013.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  23. ^"The President [sic] Day: September 20, 2014".Official Gazette.Archived fromthe originalon May 13, 2021.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  24. ^abcdefgh"Philippinen: Richtfest der neuen Botschaft"[Philippines: Topping-out ceremony of the new embassy].Business & Diplomacy(in German).RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  25. ^Ahland, Frank (July 17, 2002).Ludwig Rosenberg: Der Bürger als Gewerkschafter[Ludwig Rosenberg: the citizen as trade unionist](PDF)(Thesis) (in German).Ruhr University Bochum.p. 54-55.RetrievedMay 12,2021.Robert Leyser arbeitete unterdessen in Berlin in seinem erlernten Gewerbe und erwarb später den Meistertitel. Die Familie wohnte zunächstin der Landsberger Straße 10, später in der Charitéstraße 7 unweit des Krankenhauses nördlich der Spree (heute Berlin-Mitte).[Robert Leyser meanwhile worked in Berlin in his learned trade and later acquired the title of master craftsman. The family lived first at Landsberger Straße 10, later at Charitéstraße 7, not far from the hospital north of the Spree (today Berlin-Mitte).]
  26. ^"ASPERA steuert Botschaftsneubau in Berlin-Mitte"[ASPERA steers new embassy construction in Berlin-Mitte](PDF).Funk-BBT News(in German). p. 16.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  27. ^abcdefgRamoran, Carol (February 23, 2019)."LOOK: Philippines marks 65th year of German ties with new model embassy".Rappler.RetrievedMay 10,2021.
  28. ^"Neubau der philippinischen Botschaft gestartet"[Construction starts for new Philippine embassy].Initiative Mittelstand(in German). November 24, 2016.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
  29. ^ab"New embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Berlin".Hoyer Architekten Berlin.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  30. ^"A new AC project at The Philippines Embassy in Berlin".Angel Cerdá S.L.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  31. ^ACTION: CONFIRMED –Ad Interim / Nomination– From: June 30, 2022 To: December 19, 2022(PDF)(Report).Commission on Appointments.p. 1.RetrievedMay 22,2023.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^Pascua, Hector (September 29, 2022)."Pinoy designer, bumida sa Vienna Fashion Week"[Pinoy designer, star at Vienna Fashion Week] (in Filipino).ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs.RetrievedMay 22,2023.
  33. ^Mateo, Janvic (August 8, 2018)."3 Filipino families affected by Italy explosion".The Philippine Star.RetrievedMay 22,2023.
  34. ^Romero, Paolo (December 15, 2022)."2 Comelec execs, 3 Cabinet men get CA nod".The Philippine Star.RetrievedMay 22,2023.
  35. ^"German Presidential Palace Hoists PH Flag for New PH Ambassador's Presentation of Credentials"(Press release).Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.May 22, 2023.RetrievedMay 22,2023.
  36. ^Villasanta, Art (September 11, 2005)."Order, diplomacy and Philippine coffee".The Philippine Star.RetrievedMay 10,2021.
  37. ^"Who was Domingo Lucenario?".ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs.May 9, 2015.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
  38. ^Santos, Tina G. (June 3, 2012)."Invest in PH, foreign traders urged".Philippine Daily Inquirer.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
  39. ^David, Emilia Narni J. (March 16, 2013)."New markets open up for Philippine fresh produce -- ECCP".BusinessWorld.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
  40. ^Malasig, Carol (December 10, 2019)."Filipino language and culture making waves in German universities".Rappler.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
  41. ^"PHL Embassy-Berlin launches 'living library' project".BusinessMirror.November 28, 2019.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
  42. ^"PHL Embassy-Berlin caps off summer with 'Buwan ng Wika' talk".BusinessMirror.September 5, 2019.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
  43. ^Baron, Gabriela (June 4, 2020)."Virtual Baybayin learning held to celebrate National Heritage Month in Berlin".Manila Bulletin.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
  44. ^"Philippine Consulates (ad honorem)".Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
  45. ^"Philippine Embassy in Berlin conducts consular outreach in Hamburg".GMA News and Public Affairs.July 3, 2013.RetrievedMay 12,2021.
  46. ^"Philippine Embassy Berlin's Website Gains Recognition Anew!"(Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Berlin. February 21, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon March 16, 2008.RetrievedMay 10,2021.

External links[edit]

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